Short answer: the WNBA is now spread across more partners than almost any US league: ESPN and ABC, NBC, USA Network and Peacock, Prime Video, CBS and Paramount+, and ION, with WNBA League Pass for out-of-market games. The catch is that the biggest nationally televised games are usually blacked out on League Pass, so the cheap all-games pass rarely covers the games people most want to see.
At a glance
Watching the WNBA in 2026
| Free with an antenna | ION, ABC, CBS and NBC games |
| Streaming partners | Prime Video, Peacock, Paramount+, ESPN |
| Out-of-market games | WNBA League Pass |
| 2026 Finals | NBC's turn in the rotation |
| Teams | 15, including Toronto and Portland |
The new rights deal, briefly
In 2024 the WNBA signed an 11-year media agreement, starting with the 2026 season, alongside the NBA's own new deals. It kept Disney (ESPN and ABC) and Amazon, and brought in NBCUniversal. The league also has separate agreements with CBS and ION.
The effect is more games on national television than ever before, and a real improvement for fans who don't live near a team. The cost is fragmentation: in 2026 the league's 330 or so regular-season games were spread across at least six companies.
The 2026 season started on 8 May, with the expansion Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire making their debuts and taking the league to 15 teams.
Every partner and what it shows
Approximate 2026 regular-season allocations, as announced by the league and reported at the start of the season. Schedules shift, so treat the numbers as a guide to where the games cluster.
| Partner | What to expect | How to stream it |
|---|---|---|
| ION | About 50 games, mainly Friday-night doubleheaders | Antenna; free ION apps; most live TV services |
| USA Network | About 48 games | Live TV services; some simulcast on Peacock |
| NBC and Peacock | Selected Sunday games and Peacock streams | Antenna for NBC; Peacock |
| ESPN and ABC | A large national package across the season | ESPN Unlimited or a live TV login; ABC by antenna |
| Prime Video | About 30 games plus the Commissioner's Cup final | Amazon Prime |
| CBS and Paramount+ | A smaller package including primetime games | Antenna; Paramount+ |
Prime Video's games are exclusive. If you don't have Prime, you can't watch them any other way, and they aren't on League Pass live.
ESPN is now two tiers. Games on the ESPN channels need ESPN Unlimited (about $32 a month after the September 2026 rise) or a cable or live TV login. The cheaper ESPN Select plan covers only streaming-exclusive content.
The free games
The WNBA is unusually good for antenna viewers. ION's Friday doubleheaders, and the league's games on ABC, CBS and NBC, are all broadcast over the air.
ION is the standout: it carries the largest single package and is free both over the air and through its own apps. For a fan who can't justify several subscriptions, an antenna covers a meaningful share of the season.
A basic indoor antenna is a one-off purchase. Reception depends on distance from the transmitters and on your building, so it's worth checking an online reception map for your address first.
WNBA League Pass and its blackouts
League Pass is the league's own streaming service, sold through the WNBA app. It carries out-of-market games live, plus replays.
Price: reported at about $60 for the full 2026 season, or about $18 month to month. The season option is the better value if you subscribe from May.
Blackouts, part one: games shown nationally on the partner networks are generally not available live on League Pass. With so many games now national, that removes a large slice of the season, including most high-profile matchups.
Blackouts, part two: your local team's games may also be blacked out if a local broadcaster holds them in your area. The app will tell you what applies at your location.
So League Pass is best thought of as the tool for following a team you don't live near, in the games that aren't on national TV. It's not a single subscription for the whole league.
Your local team
Local rights are handled team by team, and the approach varies.
Some teams sell games to local over-the-air stations, which are free with an antenna. Others use regional sports networks or their own streaming services. The Minnesota Lynx, for example, have used a free local streaming service for selected games.
The team's own website usually has a "how to watch" page listing its local partners for the season. That page is more reliable than any national guide, because local arrangements change year to year. For more on the regional side, see our guide to regional sports network streaming.
Playoffs and Finals
The 2026 playoffs began at the end of September, later than usual, with a best-of-three first round, a best-of-five semifinal round and a best-of-seven Finals.
Under the new deal, the WNBA Finals rotate between Disney, Amazon and NBCUniversal. 2026 is NBC's turn, so the Finals are on NBC and Peacock. The earlier rounds are shared among the partners, and each game's channel is confirmed only a few days ahead.
If you only want to catch the Finals, an antenna for NBC or a single month of Peacock covers it.
Canada and elsewhere
With the Toronto Tempo in the league, WNBA coverage in Canada has grown. Canadian broadcasters carry a selection of games, and League Pass is available in Canada, though what's blacked out differs from the US. Check the WNBA app's listing for your location.
In most other countries, WNBA League Pass is the main way to watch, often without the US national blackouts. Availability and price vary by country.
US streaming subscriptions such as Peacock and Paramount+ don't generally work abroad, and getting around that tends to breach their terms.
A sensible setup
Casual fan: an antenna, plus Amazon Prime if you already have it. That covers ION, ABC, CBS, NBC and Prime's games.
Following one out-of-town team: the antenna and Prime, plus League Pass for the non-national games.
Watching everything: a live TV service with ESPN and USA Network, plus Prime Video and Peacock. It's the most complete and the most expensive. Of the live TV services, check which carry ION and USA before choosing.
Whatever you choose, avoid unlicensed "all sports" IPTV bundles. They are not licensed to resell these channels, and they often fail on exactly the nights a big game draws a crowd. Our guide to IPTV for sports covers the legitimate options.
Finding tonight's game
With so many partners, the hardest part of watching the WNBA is often knowing which app to open.
Start with the WNBA app or website. Its schedule lists the broadcaster for every game, including local channels in your area, and is updated when games move. It's the single most reliable source.
Check the time zone. Doubleheaders and tripleheaders are common on ION and the NBC networks, so the game you want may be the second or third of the night rather than the first.
Know what each app calls it. Prime Video lists games under its sports section and on the home screen on game day. Peacock puts live sport under a sports tab. ESPN's app shows games from ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC together when your plan includes them. ION streams through its own free apps and its channel on free streaming TV services.
Put the apps on one device. Roku, Fire TV, Google TV, Apple TV and most smart TVs run all of the partner apps. Grouping them on the home screen makes switching between a Friday ION game and a Sunday NBC game painless.
Plan for playoff changes. Postseason channels are confirmed only a few days in advance and depend on which series goes how long. Check the day before each game rather than assuming it will be on the same channel as the last one.
Quick answers
What channel are WNBA games on? It varies by game: ESPN, ABC, NBC, USA Network, CBS, ION, Prime Video, Peacock or Paramount+, with League Pass for out-of-market games.
Can I watch the WNBA for free? Yes, partly. ION's Friday games and games on ABC, CBS and NBC are free with an antenna, and ION's apps stream its games free.
How much is WNBA League Pass? Reported at about $60 for the 2026 season or about $18 a month. Prices change each year.
Why is a game blacked out on League Pass? Because it's on a national partner or a local broadcaster in your area. Those games are shown there instead.
Where are the 2026 WNBA Finals? On NBC and Peacock, as part of the rotation between Disney, Amazon and NBCUniversal.
Are WNBA games on Prime Video? Yes. Prime Video has around 30 regular-season games and the Commissioner's Cup final, all exclusive to Prime.
How do I watch the Toronto Tempo? Through the national US partners and Canadian broadcasters, with League Pass for other games. Check the team's site for its local arrangements.
Game allocations, blackout rules and prices change season to season, and playoff channels are confirmed only days ahead. Check the WNBA app or your team's site before a game. Checked September 2026.